Fourth of July Fireworks Safety
Fireworks can be a lot of fun but they also have the potential for serious injury and accidents. If handled improperly they can be extremely dangerous.
Here are some tips on keeping yourself, your family, your friends and pets safe during this holiday.
Purchase and Storage:
Only use newly purchased fireworks and throw out any old ones from previous years. Buy your fireworks from dependable and authorized dealers. Keep fireworks in a cool and dry area prior to use. Do not take fireworks apart or modify them in any way!
Precautions:
Only use fireworks in an open area, at least 100 feet from any building structures. Keep fireworks away from dry grass, plants, trees and anything else that could catch on fire. All fireworks have instructions for use; read these instructions thoroughly and carefully. Keep a couple 5-gallon buckets of water close by and/or a water hose in case of fire. Keep a cell phone nearby in case there is an accident. Keep spectators and children at least 75-100 feet away from firing area. Keep all pets indoors.
Handling Fireworks:
Do not hold lit fireworks in your hand or throw them at other people or objects. Supervise any minors using sparklers or snakes and do not let children light any fireworks on their own.
Do not play with unlit firecrackers or keep them in your pockets or purse. Any small spark could potentially set them off! Enclose aerial fireworks with cinder blocks or bricks so that they won’t fall over and fire at spectators. Keep fireworks in a box, away from the firing area.
Igniting Fireworks:
Use a flashlight when lighting fuses. If you are the designated fuse “lighter”, it may be a good idea to wear flame retardant clothing and gloves.
Ignite fuses with long-handled lighters or torches. Never stand directly over fireworks while lighting them; squat down at arm’s length away. After lighting fuse, get away as quickly as possible.
If you encounter a “dud” (a firecracker that does not explode after the fuse has burned down), wait 10 minutes and then douse the explosive with plenty of water. Sometimes unexploded fireworks can smolder and explode when unexpected.
Do not place firecrackers inside of glass, metal or plastic objects. These objects may explode and send pieces flying in many directions!
Clean Up:
Afterward, place left over fireworks and used pieces lying around, into a bucket of water.
